Cortaderia plant named &#39;Evita&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Cortaderia selloana  named ‘Evita’, characterized by its short stature its showy plumes of silvery white flowers, its vigorous growth habit, and its ability to flower as a young plant. ‘Evita’ is a  Cortadera  that is suitable for small borders, larger containers, and for use as a dried and fresh cut flower.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to anew and distinct cultivar of Cordateraselloana and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name,‘Evita’. ‘Evita’ represents a new cultivar of pampas grass, a perennialornamental grass grown for landscape use.

The inventor discovered and the new cultivar as a culm sport ofCortaderia selloana ‘Pumula’ (not patented) in a cultivated area of hisnursery in 1998.

The new cultivar, ‘Evita’, was selected as unique in comparison to itsparent, ‘Evita’, for its shorter height, its vigorous growth habit, andits ability to flower as a younger plant.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by culmdivision in spring of 2000 in Kranenburg, Germany by the inventor. Thecharacteristics of this cultivar have been determined to be stable andare reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. The new Cortaderia has not beenobserved under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in temperature, day-length, lightintensity, soil types, and water and fertility levels without, however,any variance in genotype. The general observations, and descriptionsthat follow describe plants that were grown outdoors in a trial field inKranenburg, Germany for a period of seven years.

-   -   1. ‘Evita’ is shorter in height in comparison to other cultivars        of Cortaderia selloana. ‘Evita’ reaches about 120 m in height        (under 4 feet), the parent plant ‘Pumila’ typically reaches up        to 180 cm in height. ‘Evita’ is useful in smaller borders and        larger containers, applications that are typically not suitable        for Cortaderia selloana.    -   2. ‘Evita’ is very free flowering and blooms with white        inflorescences from early August until late October in Germany.    -   3. The inflorescences of ‘Evita’ are suitable for cutting for        floral arrangements.    -   4. ‘Evita’ flowers as a young plant with blooms arising on        plants six months from culm division.    -   5. ‘Evita’ has a more vigorous grower in comparison to ‘Pumila’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Cortaderia.

The photograph in FIG. 1 was taken in early fall and illustrates theoverall habit and appearance of a three year-old plant of ‘Evita’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 was taken in late summer of a three-year plantof ‘Evita’.

The photograph on FIG. 3 provides a view of a field planting of ‘Evita’taken six months after planting culm divisions. The colors in thephotographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printingtechnology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription accurately describe the colors of the new Cortaderia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The general observations and descriptions describe plants that weregrown outdoors under field conditions in Kranenburg, Germany andobserved for a period of seven years. The detailed botanical descriptionwas taken from field grown plants two-years in age. The colordeterminations are in accordance with the 2001 RHS Colour Chart of TheRoyal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general colorterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: ‘Evita’ is a cultivar of Cortaderia    selloana.-   Common name: Evita Japanese pampas grass.-   Parentage: Naturally occurring culm sport of Cortaderia selloana    ‘Pumila’.-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Bloom from early August to late October.        -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous, tussock-forming, ornamental grass            with stout culms and leaf blades that cascade in a            vase-shaped form with upright showy inflorescences.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches a height of about 1.2 m (4 ft)            and a spread of about 1.5 m (5 ft) in three years of growth            from a culm division.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least U.S.D.A. Zone 7, testing in not            complete in colder zones.        -   Culture.—Grows best in fertile, reasonably moist soil in            full sun, drought tolerant once established.        -   Diseases and pests.—Cortaderia selloana is typically disease            free. No susceptibility or resistance to diseases or pests            has been observed for ‘Evita’.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, deep rooted.-   Growth and propagation:    -   -   Propagation.—Culm division, best divided in late winter or            early spring.        -   Time required for root development from a single            division.—Roots will fully develop in a 10 liter container            in about 9 months.        -   Time required to produce a blooming size division.—About six            months when field grown from a culm division.        -   Growth rate.—Very vigorous, increases about 20 cm per month            during spring growth.-   Culm (stem) description:    -   -   General.—Rounded, enclosed by leafs sheathed to base.        -   Culm aspect.—Held upright to about a 45° angle.        -   Culm color.—147C, tinted at base with 200B.        -   Culm size.—Up to about 6.5 mm wide and 26 cm in height.        -   Culm surface.—Glabrous.        -   Culm number.—About 28 on a two-year-old plant.        -   Internode length.—Average of 4.5 cm.        -   Ligule.—Comprised of tuft of silky hairs, 2 mm in length,            too fine to color define.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Linear.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf base.—Sheathed.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.        -   Leaf aspect.—Emerging leaves are erect, leaf blades diverge            from leaf sheath at ligule at about a 40° angle from center            of culm and then cascade.        -   Leaf venation.—Parallel, a color between 136B and 137A on            upper surface, 137A on lower surface.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire, visibly smooth but serrated with very            sharp short teeth are present that point in a forward            direction.        -   Leaf persistence.—Evergreen in mild climates, dries but is            persistent in colder regions.        -   Leaf attachment.‘bout 20,000 per panicle.        -   Spikelet size.—About 5 mm in length and 1 mm in width.        -   Glume.—1 per spikelet, about 2 cm in length and 1 mm in            width, 156D in color, linear in shape.        -   Lemma.—Numerous, about 50 per spikelet, hair-like, about 2            mm in length and 0.1 mm in width, 196C to 196D in color.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Not present, pistillate florets only.        -   Gynoecium.—1 Pistil, 2 stigmas, 2, are feathery and 145D in            color, ovary is superior, minute and 146D in color.        -   Caryopsis.—No caryopsis production was observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cortaderia plant named ‘Evita’ as herein illustrated and described. 